This New Sports Brainteaser Is Breaking the Internet—Can You Solve It?

This New Sports Brainteaser Is Breaking the Internet—Can You Solve It?

Connections: Sports Edition Takes Over as NYT’s Hottest Game Since Wordle

The New York Times’ latest viral sensation, Connections: Sports Edition, has become a daily obsession for sports fans and puzzle enthusiasts alike. Launched in beta in September 2024 through a partnership with The Athletic, this sports-themed twist on the original Connections game officially debuted on February 9, 2025 – just in time for Super Bowl weekend.

What Is Connections: Sports Edition?

This free-to-play puzzle challenges players to group 16 sports-related terms into four categories of four. Recent examples include:

  • February 15 puzzle: Skateboarding tricks (Kickflip, McTwist), NBA Dunk Contest winners (McClung, LaVine), baseball terms (Mendoza Line), and competition verbs (Challenge, Defend)
  • February 22 puzzle: Soccer goal celebrations, Olympic swimming strokes, basketball positions, and tennis court surfaces

How to Play

The rules mirror classic Connections with a sports twist:

  1. Identify four groups of four related terms
  2. Three wrong guesses allowed per game
  3. Daily reset at midnight local time
  4. Color-coded difficulty levels (yellow=easiest, purple=hardest)

Why It’s Going Viral

The game’s success stems from:

  • Sports-specific categories: Combines athlete names, terminology, and cultural references
  • Shareable results: Players can post color-coded grids showing their solving path
  • Competitive elements: Optional timer mode and global leaderboards

Recent Updates

The Athletic has added new features since launch:

  • Archive access for past puzzles
  • Daily Coach discussions with expert analysis
  • Mobile-first design improvements

With over 150 puzzles released since beta testing began, Connections: Sports Edition shows no signs of slowing down. As ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt recently tweeted: “It’s Wordle for sports nerds – and I’m here for it.”


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